Air carrier pilot complains about frequency congestion and fast talking controller.

Attributes
ACN	140897
Time
Date	199003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : fsm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	140897
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During intermediate level off at 10000' MSL from plano intersection direct to ord VOR. At position usually expect descent and turn for runway 9R. Controller was issuing instructions nonstop west/O waiting for responses. Another aircraft tried to check on to frequency while controller was trying to issue instructions making both unreadable. Another aircraft radio covered controller. Controller continued issuing instructions assuming everyone heard. Controller came back and said, 'air carrier X, slow to 210 KTS,' and captain responded. Then controller, in angry voice and tone said, 'air carrier X, you were told to turn and descend 10 mi back.' captain responded that we had neither heard or answered those instructions. Controller angrily gave instructions to slow turn and descend, then intercept localizer. Another controller came on and amended instructions. Rest of approach and landing uneventful and normal. Ord approach is very busy, but they need to stop long enough for responses and check-INS and not talk nonstop. We couldn't even get a word in edgewise to ask. I realize it is basically a congestion problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT COMPLAINS ABOUT FREQ CONGESTION AND FAST TALKING CTLR.

Narrative: DURING INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OFF AT 10000' MSL FROM PLANO INTXN DIRECT TO ORD VOR. AT POS USUALLY EXPECT DSCNT AND TURN FOR RWY 9R. CTLR WAS ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS NONSTOP W/O WAITING FOR RESPONSES. ANOTHER ACFT TRIED TO CHK ON TO FREQ WHILE CTLR WAS TRYING TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS MAKING BOTH UNREADABLE. ANOTHER ACFT RADIO COVERED CTLR. CTLR CONTINUED ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS ASSUMING EVERYONE HEARD. CTLR CAME BACK AND SAID, 'ACR X, SLOW TO 210 KTS,' AND CAPT RESPONDED. THEN CTLR, IN ANGRY VOICE AND TONE SAID, 'ACR X, YOU WERE TOLD TO TURN AND DSND 10 MI BACK.' CAPT RESPONDED THAT WE HAD NEITHER HEARD OR ANSWERED THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. CTLR ANGRILY GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO SLOW TURN AND DSND, THEN INTERCEPT LOC. ANOTHER CTLR CAME ON AND AMENDED INSTRUCTIONS. REST OF APCH AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL AND NORMAL. ORD APCH IS VERY BUSY, BUT THEY NEED TO STOP LONG ENOUGH FOR RESPONSES AND CHK-INS AND NOT TALK NONSTOP. WE COULDN'T EVEN GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE TO ASK. I REALIZE IT IS BASICALLY A CONGESTION PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.